WEBVTT 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:08.120 Well folks, great to see you this morning. I hope you are well. Let me encourage you to have Romans chapter 6 open up in front of you as we journey through this morning. 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:14.339 If you are here today and you are wondering what this Christian business is all about, what it means to be a Christian, 00:00:14.500 --> 00:00:18.839 then let me encourage you to really listen up over the next 25 minutes or so, 00:00:19.379 --> 00:00:23.500 because this passage is going to take us right to the heart of what it means to be a Christian, 00:00:23.660 --> 00:00:27.500 the transformation that's happened in the life of the Christian. 00:00:27.500 --> 00:00:31.240 And if you are a follower of Jesus, then again I encourage you to listen up, 00:00:31.660 --> 00:00:37.320 because this passage is going to help us remember our identity in Jesus Christ. 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:42.140 And it's been my prayer all week that the truth of this would impact our lives, 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:50.560 it would stir our affection for the Lord Jesus, and it would stir us to live lives of holy obedience to him, out of love for him. 00:00:50.679 --> 00:00:52.900 So come with me to Romans chapter 6. 00:00:54.200 --> 00:00:56.659 And to kick us off, I'm going to put somebody on the screen. 00:00:56.659 --> 00:01:00.059 And I wonder, and this is one for a certain generation, okay, let me just find my thing. 00:01:00.259 --> 00:01:00.659 Here he is. 00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:03.099 Can anyone tell me who this is on the screen? 00:01:06.039 --> 00:01:07.719 Come on, somebody must know the answer to this. 00:01:07.759 --> 00:01:08.620 Come on, who's this? 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:11.879 It's not Gloria Gaynor? 00:01:12.539 --> 00:01:13.799 So this is Gladys Knight. 00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:16.539 I thought that might go down better than this. 00:01:16.859 --> 00:01:18.199 This is Gladys Knight. 00:01:19.199 --> 00:01:21.679 She is known as the Empress of Soul. 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:28.120 And in 1989 she released one of her most famous songs, and maybe this will begin to kick in with people, 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:30.820 one of her most famous songs, and it's called A License to Kill. 00:01:31.500 --> 00:01:32.740 Anyone heard of A License to Kill? 00:01:33.600 --> 00:01:39.780 If we're on the ball, you'll know that that was the soundtrack, that was the theme song to the Bond film that was released that year 00:01:39.780 --> 00:01:43.680 with the same title starring Timothy Dalton. 00:01:44.180 --> 00:01:47.980 Okay, most underrated Bond, if you ask me, but there's Timothy Dalton. 00:01:47.980 --> 00:01:55.380 So she's singing this song, A License to Kill, and it was a song that captured something about who James Bond is. 00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:00.439 He's the man who prefers his martini shaken, not stirred. 00:02:00.579 --> 00:02:02.540 We learn that as you watch the Bond films. 00:02:02.620 --> 00:02:06.219 He's the guy that loves driving a vintage Aston Martin complete with gizmos and gadgets. 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:07.240 That's James Bond. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:10.900 And here we got something more about who he is in this song. 00:02:11.500 --> 00:02:16.000 Because as well as being those things, he's the man who has a license to kill. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:22.819 So he works for the Secret Service, and he has this special dispensation to kill people. 00:02:22.939 --> 00:02:23.740 He's free to kill. 00:02:23.960 --> 00:02:27.580 And all the while he's free to kill knowing that he's covered. 00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:29.699 He's got his license, he's covered. 00:02:30.939 --> 00:02:34.099 And it's worth having 007 in your mind as we journey through today. 00:02:34.939 --> 00:02:40.759 Because as we hit chapter 6, what we need to understand is that Paul, 00:02:40.759 --> 00:02:46.759 remember off the back of chapter 5, he's written that we are saved, we are right with God, 00:02:46.819 --> 00:02:51.979 not because of what we do, but rather because of God's grace to us shown in Jesus Christ. 00:02:52.060 --> 00:02:54.259 We are justified because of Christ before God. 00:02:54.340 --> 00:02:55.899 That's what we were singing just earlier. 00:02:56.939 --> 00:02:57.639 Grace is free. 00:02:57.799 --> 00:02:58.739 It's the truth. 00:02:58.819 --> 00:03:01.419 Last week we thought that we should love the Scottish people because it's free. 00:03:01.419 --> 00:03:07.219 And Paul, having off the back of chapter 5, laid this out in glorious technicolor. 00:03:07.339 --> 00:03:10.060 He's anticipating a question that should be in the mind of his readers. 00:03:11.259 --> 00:03:18.039 And I wonder if it's a question that maybe you had in your mind as we finished chapter 5 last week. 00:03:18.060 --> 00:03:21.479 Or maybe it's a question that as we go through this now, as we unpack this a little, 00:03:21.579 --> 00:03:23.979 you say to yourself, do you know what, I hadn't thought about it until now, 00:03:24.019 --> 00:03:27.039 but now that you mention it, I've always wondered how that works. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:32.579 And you'll see Paul pitch the question at verse 1 of this chapter, 00:03:33.780 --> 00:03:35.259 and it goes something like this. 00:03:35.979 --> 00:03:40.899 If we are saved by grace, right, free grace, we've done nothing to deserve it, 00:03:40.959 --> 00:03:42.379 not because of us, because of Jesus. 00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:46.180 If we are saved by grace, does that mean that as Christians now, 00:03:47.299 --> 00:03:49.899 we're a bit like James Bond, we're in the same category as him? 00:03:50.739 --> 00:03:55.599 Not that we have a license to kill, but now, because of God's grace, 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:57.400 do we now have a license to sin? 00:03:58.840 --> 00:04:05.099 Are we, because of God's grace to us, do we now have that freedom to do what we want, 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:07.979 all the while knowing that we are covered by God's grace? 00:04:10.479 --> 00:04:11.939 That might seem a silly question. 00:04:12.079 --> 00:04:13.000 Am I free to do what I want? 00:04:13.019 --> 00:04:13.819 That might seem a silly question. 00:04:13.879 --> 00:04:14.639 But let me just say this. 00:04:15.079 --> 00:04:19.120 If you fully understood the impact of chapter 5, 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:22.659 if you understood in your mind that we are saved by grace, 00:04:22.660 --> 00:04:26.660 then this question is a perfectly logical question to ask. 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:31.120 And let me just say, if you've found yourself explaining this to your friend, 00:04:31.320 --> 00:04:33.880 to your colleague, your family member, explaining grace, 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:36.520 and people come back with these kind of questions, 00:04:37.140 --> 00:04:39.220 then let me encourage you that you've explained it right. 00:04:40.500 --> 00:04:41.840 You've explained it right. 00:04:43.440 --> 00:04:44.300 But think about this. 00:04:44.340 --> 00:04:45.500 Does that seem a silly conclusion? 00:04:45.620 --> 00:04:46.879 Well, it doesn't at all. 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:49.360 Because people will be asking, 00:04:50.060 --> 00:04:53.000 does it really matter then how I live in light of God's grace? 00:04:53.100 --> 00:04:53.680 Does it matter? 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:56.839 I mean, can I live however I want, 00:04:56.920 --> 00:04:59.360 then at the last minute can I go rummaging around in my pockets, 00:04:59.459 --> 00:05:00.699 looking for my wallet, thinking, 00:05:01.219 --> 00:05:02.560 there's my Tesco Club card, 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:04.040 there's my Boots Advantage card, 00:05:04.139 --> 00:05:05.620 there's my Nando's loyalty card, 00:05:05.719 --> 00:05:07.040 there's my NHS donor card. 00:05:07.100 --> 00:05:07.899 Oh, where I found it! 00:05:08.420 --> 00:05:09.980 Aha, there's my grace card. 00:05:10.899 --> 00:05:11.159 Right? 00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:12.459 There's my grace card. 00:05:12.659 --> 00:05:14.920 I'm so glad I took that out back in the day. 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:15.860 Boy, am I glad. 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:18.860 And before God, when he judges the world, 00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:20.639 we play the grace card. 00:05:21.500 --> 00:05:23.800 And we say, I think you'll find that entitles me to get to heaven. 00:05:24.259 --> 00:05:25.220 Forget how I've lived. 00:05:25.520 --> 00:05:26.540 I've got the grace card. 00:05:28.460 --> 00:05:30.400 Is that how we should respond to grace? 00:05:31.220 --> 00:05:32.840 Or you could look at another way. 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:34.680 If you've seen this guy, 00:05:34.819 --> 00:05:36.220 you know about this guy on the screen. 00:05:36.340 --> 00:05:37.460 Probably not his best picture, 00:05:37.620 --> 00:05:42.300 but could you think about it the way that famous Russian monk Rasputin looked at it? 00:05:43.300 --> 00:05:44.480 How he responded to grace? 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:45.660 Because he taught his followers 00:05:45.660 --> 00:05:48.180 that the more we sin, 00:05:49.259 --> 00:05:52.240 the more we show to the world our need of grace and forgiveness. 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:55.500 And actually, we're doing God a massive favour when we sin 00:05:55.500 --> 00:05:57.819 and do so living recklessly 00:05:57.819 --> 00:06:00.100 because we make God's grace and forgiveness 00:06:00.100 --> 00:06:03.480 look so much more glorious in the eyes of the watching world. 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:07.819 And if you know that Boney M song that goes with Rasputin, 00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:08.939 or if you know anything about his life, 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:10.460 you know that might explain his 00:06:10.460 --> 00:06:13.040 let's go beg or go home, 00:06:13.140 --> 00:06:16.360 let's go out and let's party like it's 1989 kind of lifestyle, right? 00:06:18.200 --> 00:06:19.740 And let me just suggest to you that 00:06:19.740 --> 00:06:22.860 given that, your boy might have got it wrong. 00:06:24.300 --> 00:06:25.780 Is that what it means to live under grace? 00:06:25.819 --> 00:06:26.460 Is that what it means? 00:06:26.459 --> 00:06:28.419 I don't know about you, 00:06:28.479 --> 00:06:30.539 but as I've tried to explain grace to my friends, 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:32.139 I've been met with those kind of questions 00:06:32.139 --> 00:06:33.180 and those kind of reactions. 00:06:35.079 --> 00:06:35.539 You know, 00:06:36.379 --> 00:06:39.819 I remember one friend who I read John's gospel with 00:06:39.819 --> 00:06:40.579 a few years back, 00:06:40.639 --> 00:06:41.779 who read it for four years. 00:06:43.219 --> 00:06:45.219 And he struggled to get his head around this concept, 00:06:45.339 --> 00:06:47.219 just couldn't quite get it. 00:06:47.220 --> 00:06:49.560 And I remember him telling me 00:06:49.560 --> 00:06:51.640 that not only did grace seem unfair to him, 00:06:52.220 --> 00:06:54.580 but surely it took away, 00:06:55.100 --> 00:06:57.140 rather incentivized, 00:06:57.740 --> 00:06:59.920 any kind of desire to want to obey God 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:00.820 and live for him. 00:07:01.940 --> 00:07:03.420 So that's what it means to live under grace. 00:07:03.960 --> 00:07:05.520 You ever ask yourself those kind of questions? 00:07:05.620 --> 00:07:06.540 How should I live? 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:08.640 In light of God's grace? 00:07:09.820 --> 00:07:11.600 Well, look what Paul says, 00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:14.520 writes rather at verse two, right? 00:07:14.600 --> 00:07:15.400 So he's got that question, 00:07:15.480 --> 00:07:16.360 he's pitched it at verse one. 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:17.680 Here's verse two. 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:18.259 What does he write? 00:07:18.340 --> 00:07:18.819 Two words. 00:07:19.540 --> 00:07:20.580 Absolutely not. 00:07:22.020 --> 00:07:22.840 Absolutely not. 00:07:22.960 --> 00:07:25.220 Or as quintessential Englishman J.B. Phillips 00:07:25.220 --> 00:07:26.139 paraphrases it, 00:07:26.199 --> 00:07:27.240 what a ghastly thought. 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:29.180 To which we all reply, 00:07:29.300 --> 00:07:30.500 hear, hear, J.B. 00:07:30.699 --> 00:07:31.840 What a ghastly thought. 00:07:32.960 --> 00:07:33.840 And here's Paul's point. 00:07:34.180 --> 00:07:35.879 If that's the difference that you think 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:38.060 God's grace to you in Jesus Christ 00:07:38.060 --> 00:07:39.180 makes to your life, 00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:40.520 then you have totally missed it. 00:07:41.960 --> 00:07:42.900 And what he means is that 00:07:42.900 --> 00:07:45.560 if we fully get the contours of chapter five, 00:07:45.560 --> 00:07:46.860 if we understand grace 00:07:46.860 --> 00:07:48.319 and the difference it makes to our lives, 00:07:48.379 --> 00:07:49.220 then we'll understand that 00:07:49.220 --> 00:07:50.759 this is something far bigger 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:53.180 that God declares to be true for us. 00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:56.420 And something that God has pulled out 00:07:56.420 --> 00:07:58.819 all the stops to do for us in our lives 00:07:58.819 --> 00:08:00.259 is he's bought us for himself 00:08:00.259 --> 00:08:02.840 and makes us his own in Jesus Christ. 00:08:03.620 --> 00:08:05.620 Right, so this chapter is all about identity. 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:07.319 Sorry, the first half of chapter six. 00:08:07.840 --> 00:08:09.660 Understanding your identity as a Christian. 00:08:11.100 --> 00:08:13.680 Have you ever had that moment 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:14.900 when you're walking down the street 00:08:14.900 --> 00:08:16.699 and you look at, 00:08:16.819 --> 00:08:17.759 I mean, this has happened to us before, 00:08:17.840 --> 00:08:20.319 you pass your favorite restaurant 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:21.680 that you used to go to a couple of years ago 00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:22.500 and all of a sudden you see 00:08:22.500 --> 00:08:23.660 things are different in the front. 00:08:24.400 --> 00:08:25.840 Right, and those words at the top of it, 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:26.819 under new management. 00:08:27.500 --> 00:08:28.220 You ever seen that before? 00:08:28.300 --> 00:08:29.060 Under new management. 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:30.300 And you think to yourself, 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:31.480 ooh, I wonder what's going on here. 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:33.259 What's going on here? 00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:34.299 What difference has this made? 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:36.680 Because there's new people in charge now. 00:08:37.560 --> 00:08:38.200 Let's go and see. 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:40.980 Well, this is what Paul's declaring to be true 00:08:40.980 --> 00:08:42.140 in this chapter of the Christian, 00:08:42.680 --> 00:08:44.520 that the label above your life, 00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:45.240 what it reads, 00:08:45.660 --> 00:08:47.000 when you put your faith in Jesus Christ, 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:48.259 is you are under new management. 00:08:49.160 --> 00:08:50.259 You're under new management. 00:08:50.780 --> 00:08:51.680 That's what he's saying here. 00:08:51.720 --> 00:08:52.220 If you're a Christian, 00:08:52.300 --> 00:08:53.200 you're under new management. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:54.620 This is what he's saying. 00:08:54.660 --> 00:08:56.240 Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ? 00:08:56.340 --> 00:08:56.920 Yep, I have. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:08:57.560 Great. 00:08:58.060 --> 00:08:59.560 Have you understood you're saved by grace 00:08:59.560 --> 00:09:00.140 and not by works? 00:09:00.220 --> 00:09:00.440 Yep. 00:09:00.860 --> 00:09:01.480 That's wonderful. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:02.340 Do you know what that makes you? 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:03.400 It makes you Jesuses. 00:09:04.360 --> 00:09:05.140 Makes you his. 00:09:06.140 --> 00:09:07.100 You're united to him. 00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:08.040 That's what we were saying before. 00:09:08.139 --> 00:09:09.360 Your life is caught with him. 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:12.940 And the key verse for us today is verse 11. 00:09:14.360 --> 00:09:15.040 Verse 11, 00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:16.420 here's what Paul wants them to understand. 00:09:16.700 --> 00:09:18.580 Here's how Paul wants them to view themselves. 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:20.639 He wants them to understand themselves. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:22.560 Verse 11, 00:09:22.680 --> 00:09:23.680 in the same way, 00:09:23.820 --> 00:09:26.159 count yourselves dead to sin, 00:09:26.940 --> 00:09:30.460 but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:32.600 So do you see what he says? 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:33.740 He says count yourself, 00:09:33.899 --> 00:09:34.940 consider yourself. 00:09:34.940 --> 00:09:38.920 So this is how I want you to think of yourself. 00:09:39.100 --> 00:09:39.220 You know, 00:09:39.280 --> 00:09:40.060 that way you would do, 00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:40.800 if you were doing, 00:09:41.340 --> 00:09:41.820 I don't know, 00:09:41.860 --> 00:09:43.060 some kind of planning in your life, 00:09:43.160 --> 00:09:45.260 you would look at what's going on in your diary 00:09:45.260 --> 00:09:46.520 and you would think about it 00:09:46.520 --> 00:09:47.760 and you would think about, 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:48.120 yep, 00:09:48.140 --> 00:09:49.100 that's what I'm doing this day. 00:09:49.400 --> 00:09:50.300 That's what I'm doing this day. 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:51.060 You go to your wardrobe, 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:52.060 you look in your wardrobe 00:09:52.060 --> 00:09:53.520 and you think to yourself, 00:09:53.680 --> 00:09:54.880 that's me today. 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:56.240 That's me today. 00:09:56.300 --> 00:09:57.100 This is what he's saying, 00:09:57.440 --> 00:09:57.640 right? 00:09:58.020 --> 00:09:59.000 Get your head around this. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:00.160 This is who you are. 00:10:00.420 --> 00:10:01.800 This is what's going on in your life. 00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:04.159 Because we need to understand this, 00:10:04.219 --> 00:10:04.779 first and foremost, 00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:06.379 our identity in Jesus Christ 00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:08.399 if we're to see the difference 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:09.839 that it should make to our lives. 00:10:11.299 --> 00:10:13.199 I don't know if you've ever had that experience 00:10:13.199 --> 00:10:14.719 of changing jobs. 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:18.379 And I predict that I remember going from working from, 00:10:18.719 --> 00:10:19.359 a few years ago, 00:10:19.419 --> 00:10:20.000 working from, 00:10:20.439 --> 00:10:21.620 for one law firm 00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:23.679 and I had one boss 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:26.159 tell me what to do every day, 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:27.620 giving me instructions 00:10:27.620 --> 00:10:29.220 that I had no choice but to answer to 00:10:29.220 --> 00:10:29.700 and do. 00:10:31.100 --> 00:10:32.060 And then three weeks later, 00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:33.779 I find myself working for another boss 00:10:33.779 --> 00:10:35.379 down south in Bristol. 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:38.000 Another boss telling me what to do 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:39.980 and expecting me to do certain things 00:10:39.980 --> 00:10:40.560 and saying, 00:10:40.659 --> 00:10:40.720 hey, 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:41.560 you work for me now, 00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:42.440 not that guy 00:10:42.440 --> 00:10:43.879 he used to work for. 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:45.000 You ever had that kind of experience? 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:45.560 You go from, 00:10:46.220 --> 00:10:47.460 maybe you're a student as well, 00:10:47.580 --> 00:10:48.940 you found this with the person 00:10:48.940 --> 00:10:49.879 who's overseeing your work, 00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:50.419 you're a lecturer, 00:10:50.700 --> 00:10:52.059 the term ends 00:10:52.059 --> 00:10:52.600 and all of a sudden 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:54.679 you go into another year 00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:56.559 and you start listening to another lecturer 00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:58.500 who's telling you how to work. 00:10:58.679 --> 00:10:59.779 This is what Paul is saying 00:10:59.779 --> 00:11:00.580 has gone on here. 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:01.559 Right? 00:11:01.700 --> 00:11:03.100 Pidge yourself in that situation. 00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:05.340 You've changed your job. 00:11:08.299 --> 00:11:09.879 You've located the stationary cupboard. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:10.840 This isn't your first day. 00:11:10.919 --> 00:11:12.399 You've located the stationary cupboard. 00:11:12.539 --> 00:11:13.559 Your name's on the door. 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:15.000 You've clocked where the canteen is. 00:11:15.059 --> 00:11:16.000 You know all the important stuff 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:16.899 when you start a new job. 00:11:16.899 --> 00:11:20.799 And you've settled down at your desk 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:22.319 and you've opened up your emails 00:11:22.319 --> 00:11:24.579 and you see in your emails 00:11:24.579 --> 00:11:26.019 that there's an email there 00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:27.919 from your previous boss. 00:11:28.379 --> 00:11:28.699 And you're saying, 00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:29.079 oh great, 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:30.019 how great to hear from them. 00:11:30.459 --> 00:11:31.419 And you open this email 00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:32.059 and it doesn't say, 00:11:32.179 --> 00:11:32.299 listen, 00:11:32.419 --> 00:11:33.439 just clocking in 00:11:33.439 --> 00:11:34.740 to wish you all the best for the future. 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:35.860 Actually it says, 00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:36.980 there's a piece of work 00:11:36.980 --> 00:11:37.840 I want you to do 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:38.699 and it'd be great 00:11:38.699 --> 00:11:39.699 if you could have it on my desk 00:11:39.699 --> 00:11:41.240 for five o'clock on Friday 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:41.879 if that's okay. 00:11:42.939 --> 00:11:43.899 How would you respond? 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:46.100 How would you respond? 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:48.840 Surely you would think to yourself 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:49.480 when you say it, 00:11:49.539 --> 00:11:49.819 we're English, 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:50.500 well it's not English, 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:51.399 we are British 00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:53.419 and you would say it a lot more politely than this 00:11:53.419 --> 00:11:55.059 but surely you would say on your bike mate, 00:11:55.980 --> 00:11:56.679 not a chance. 00:11:57.539 --> 00:11:58.980 Because that relationship has ended, 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:00.100 I don't work for you anymore, 00:12:00.179 --> 00:12:01.379 I work for somebody else. 00:12:02.959 --> 00:12:04.240 And that's exactly what Paul is saying 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:05.579 in this chapter. 00:12:06.959 --> 00:12:08.079 That that relationship 00:12:08.079 --> 00:12:10.399 we'll see with sin has been severed. 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:13.000 Its power over our lives has been severed. 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:14.500 We are dead to sin 00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:16.440 and we are alive to God. 00:12:17.179 --> 00:12:18.299 So let me just take those, 00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:19.799 this is all we're going to do this morning, 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:20.480 we're going to think about 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:21.659 what it means to be dead to sin 00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:23.740 and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:25.820 So let me just think about the first one here, 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:26.620 you're dead to sin. 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:28.679 Think about this, 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:30.019 you're dead to sin if you're a Christian 00:12:30.019 --> 00:12:32.080 because before we were Christians, 00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:33.340 you see sin was our master. 00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:36.620 Look how Paul describes that, 00:12:36.700 --> 00:12:37.320 verse six. 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:40.060 Sin, what did it do? 00:12:40.160 --> 00:12:41.560 It ruled over us. 00:12:42.060 --> 00:12:43.060 It mastered us. 00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:45.660 It enslaved us. 00:12:47.140 --> 00:12:48.520 So before we were Christians, 00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:49.920 sin dictated our lives. 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:51.000 This is what it did. 00:12:51.040 --> 00:12:51.940 It called the shots. 00:12:52.520 --> 00:12:53.640 We just went our own way. 00:12:53.920 --> 00:12:55.100 We weren't bothered about God's way. 00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:57.480 You know, I was thinking about it this week, 00:12:57.540 --> 00:12:59.020 before I was a Christian, 00:12:59.140 --> 00:13:00.120 see if somebody had told me 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:00.879 that I was a sinner, 00:13:01.020 --> 00:13:01.320 do you know what? 00:13:01.340 --> 00:13:02.280 I would have laughed them down. 00:13:03.040 --> 00:13:03.700 Laughed them down. 00:13:04.780 --> 00:13:05.520 I had no idea, 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:07.439 I had no concept of what sin was. 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:09.220 I was just interested in me 00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:10.539 and progressing my life. 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:11.720 I wasn't interested in God 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:13.120 and if truth be told, 00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:14.799 what I thought was that God owed me 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:16.259 for how my life was going. 00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:17.399 I didn't know him anything. 00:13:19.319 --> 00:13:21.139 That's the very definition of sin, isn't it? 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:21.759 Going our own way, 00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:22.500 going our own way, 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:23.439 pushing our own agenda 00:13:23.439 --> 00:13:25.679 rather than submitting to our makers, 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.519 our creators. 00:13:28.059 --> 00:13:28.799 You know, looking back at it now, 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:30.000 I had absolutely no idea 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:32.259 that I was like a dead fish 00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:33.360 that was just flowing downstream. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:36.320 So what is it about fish? 00:13:37.060 --> 00:13:37.840 It's the alive ones 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:38.860 that's them upstream, isn't it? 00:13:39.659 --> 00:13:40.539 I was a dead fish 00:13:40.539 --> 00:13:41.560 that was flowing downstream. 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:42.480 But look what happened. 00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:43.840 Verse 3, Christ died. 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:45.139 Somebody writes, 00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:46.560 Christ died. 00:13:46.820 --> 00:13:47.500 There's the fact. 00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:49.759 Christ took the death 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:52.180 that my sin deserved, 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:53.500 that your sin deserved. 00:13:54.460 --> 00:13:55.639 And when I put my faith in him 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:56.000 and I said, 00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:57.120 Jesus, you're my saviour, 00:13:57.300 --> 00:13:57.980 I need you, 00:13:58.659 --> 00:13:59.440 that death, 00:13:59.519 --> 00:13:59.940 his death, 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:01.200 became my death. 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:01.639 Do you see it? 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:02.200 Verse 6, 00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:02.860 we were what? 00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:04.899 Crucified with Christ. 00:14:06.820 --> 00:14:07.980 And think about this. 00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:10.440 If you want to understand it this way, 00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:12.980 if sin's ultimate and final weapon 00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:14.019 against you and I 00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:15.779 because of a rebellion against God, 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:19.300 it's not just physical death, 00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:21.340 but it's what the Bible calls 00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:22.019 the second death. 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:23.360 It's the eternal death 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:24.360 when God judges the world 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:25.279 on that last day. 00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:28.340 Friends, if my life is united to Jesus, 00:14:28.340 --> 00:14:31.840 then that ultimate and final weapon 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:32.960 that sin has over me 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:33.519 is gone. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:35.920 It's not a possibility anymore 00:14:35.920 --> 00:14:37.240 because Jesus took that death. 00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:39.200 It's not on the cards for me. 00:14:40.560 --> 00:14:41.960 It's been totally disarmed. 00:14:44.700 --> 00:14:44.980 And you see, 00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:46.620 that death hasn't just affected, 00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:47.820 sorry, 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:50.200 that death has affected my future, 00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:51.580 but it's also affected my present. 00:14:53.060 --> 00:14:54.759 You see how united to Jesus, 00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:55.900 sin's power over me 00:14:55.900 --> 00:14:57.580 has been decisively severed. 00:14:58.900 --> 00:14:59.560 Verse 6, 00:14:59.680 --> 00:15:01.020 look at the word he uses there. 00:15:01.160 --> 00:15:02.600 It's what is powerless. 00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:04.860 You see, 00:15:04.920 --> 00:15:06.360 there's been a once and for all break. 00:15:06.580 --> 00:15:07.800 The tense of that Greek word 00:15:07.800 --> 00:15:09.420 is a complete one. 00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:13.719 So this was a once in a lifetime 00:15:13.719 --> 00:15:15.819 permanently established break 00:15:15.819 --> 00:15:16.860 with sin 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:18.120 and its power over us. 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:19.339 That's what's happened 00:15:19.339 --> 00:15:20.259 in Jesus Christ. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:22.839 I love that great old hymn 00:15:22.839 --> 00:15:23.299 that we sing, 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:24.979 Oh for a thousand tongues to sing. 00:15:25.079 --> 00:15:25.479 What is it, 00:15:25.719 --> 00:15:27.219 the line of that song? 00:15:27.500 --> 00:15:28.659 He breaks the power 00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:29.659 of cancelled sin. 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:32.719 The power of cancelled sin. 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:34.599 And he sets the prisoner free. 00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:36.559 His blood can make 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:37.579 the foulest clean. 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:38.219 His blood, 00:15:38.220 --> 00:15:40.060 it availed for me. 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:42.200 Or if you want a more modern song, 00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:43.180 who breaks the power 00:15:43.180 --> 00:15:44.200 of sin and darkness, 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:45.840 whose love is mighty 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:46.860 and so much stronger, 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:47.740 the king of glory, 00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:49.480 the king above all kings. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:50.700 We celebrate this truth 00:15:50.700 --> 00:15:51.620 that Jesus Christ 00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:53.139 has severed 00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:55.180 the ties that sin has with us. 00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:56.580 It's mastery over us. 00:15:58.920 --> 00:15:59.980 So what that means for us 00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:00.960 is now that we're united 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:02.139 to Jesus as Christians, 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:03.460 sin can shout all at once, 00:16:03.560 --> 00:16:04.800 it can bark orders at us, 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:05.620 it can send us 00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:07.399 an email with detailed 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:08.279 instructions on it 00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:09.500 about what it wants us to do, 00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:10.120 our flesh. 00:16:11.319 --> 00:16:12.019 But now, 00:16:12.459 --> 00:16:14.059 we have the power, 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:15.980 because the Holy Spirit 00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:16.699 lives in us, 00:16:17.539 --> 00:16:19.360 of saying, 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:21.500 I don't answer to you anymore 00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:23.679 on your bike mate. 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:26.240 Now of course, 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:26.759 we have to understand 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:27.199 that doesn't mean 00:16:27.199 --> 00:16:28.439 we'll be perfect in this life 00:16:28.439 --> 00:16:29.100 and we'll see that 00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:30.919 in the next chapter. 00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:33.319 This is a daily battle, 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:34.740 even a losing one sometimes, 00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:35.240 with sin, 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:36.340 as we still grapple 00:16:36.340 --> 00:16:37.259 with this flesh. 00:16:37.340 --> 00:16:38.240 And I want to encourage you 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:40.240 today that if you find 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:41.100 yourself in that battle 00:16:41.100 --> 00:16:41.519 with sin, 00:16:41.580 --> 00:16:42.000 if you think, 00:16:42.560 --> 00:16:43.980 why is this such a struggle? 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:46.639 I want to encourage you 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:48.139 that that is a sign of faith, 00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:49.879 of living faith, 00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:51.799 and not of failure. 00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:54.220 Because this wasn't true for you, 00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:55.279 you wouldn't be fighting it. 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:56.639 If God had opened your eyes, 00:16:56.700 --> 00:16:57.460 if you weren't like fish 00:16:57.460 --> 00:16:58.180 swimming upstream, 00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:59.399 you wouldn't be fighting it. 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:01.519 You should take courage 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:01.899 from that. 00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:04.480 Jesus has broken the power 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:06.240 of sin and darkness. 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:07.019 This is what he's done 00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:07.480 for me, 00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:07.920 for you, 00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:08.859 that we can choose now 00:17:08.859 --> 00:17:09.619 to say no to sin 00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:10.619 and we want to worship God. 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.500 I'm dead to sin. 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:13.339 That's how Paul is saying 00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:14.200 to think of yourself. 00:17:14.379 --> 00:17:15.180 You're dead to sin. 00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:17.480 You've got a new master now. 00:17:17.639 --> 00:17:19.339 That tie has been severed. 00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:20.779 And your new master, 00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:21.839 you need to understand, 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:23.160 is the best boss 00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:24.619 you could ever serve. 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:26.859 He is the best master, 00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:27.859 Jesus Christ, 00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:29.480 one who has so lovingly 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:31.019 given his life for you, 00:17:31.019 --> 00:17:33.359 a one who has so graciously 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:35.259 wooed you to himself, 00:17:35.660 --> 00:17:37.980 wooed you to himself 00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:38.460 and says, 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:39.339 come and follow me. 00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:41.400 Come and serve me. 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.400 That's what Paul means 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:45.940 when he writes 00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:46.579 in the other half 00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:47.160 of verse 11, 00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:47.720 what are we? 00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:48.740 We are alive to God. 00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:51.079 Alive to God. 00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:52.740 You see, 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:53.519 you're not just united 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.339 to him in his death 00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.059 if you're a Christian. 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:57.740 You're united to him 00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:58.599 in his life, 00:17:58.680 --> 00:17:59.539 in his resurrection. 00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.660 Get your head around that one. 00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:03.319 I am raised, 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.059 verse 4, 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:05.119 do you see the language? 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:05.619 So important, 00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:06.180 we see his language, 00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:06.779 what's he saying? 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:08.720 I am raised to what? 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:09.779 Wander about my own? 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:10.059 No, 00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:11.579 I am raised to walk 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.720 in the newness of life. 00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:16.559 I'm spiritually experiencing 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:17.480 that life now 00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:18.519 and I will physically 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:19.819 experience that life 00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:20.240 one day 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:21.359 when Jesus gloriously 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:22.559 returns. 00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:24.400 See, 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:24.599 friends, 00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:25.240 his life changes 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:25.779 the future. 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:26.740 That resurrection, 00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:27.940 we're united to that. 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:29.519 It changes the future. 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:31.920 I'm sticking with 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:32.539 the Bond theme. 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:32.839 You know, 00:18:32.879 --> 00:18:33.900 one of the earliest films 00:18:33.900 --> 00:18:34.400 was called 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:35.920 You Only Live Twice. 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:37.079 Never watched that 00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:37.619 Bond film? 00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:38.759 You Only Live Twice. 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:41.339 What Paul is saying 00:18:41.339 --> 00:18:42.279 is true for the Christian, 00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:43.779 which is not true 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.599 for the non-Christian, 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.700 is that in Jesus, 00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:47.220 friends, 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:47.900 flip it around, 00:18:48.639 --> 00:18:50.039 we will only die once. 00:18:50.879 --> 00:18:51.480 So what are you saying? 00:18:51.879 --> 00:18:53.220 We're only going to die once. 00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:55.779 I don't know if you saw 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:57.460 in the news recently 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:59.259 that a recently married 00:18:59.259 --> 00:18:59.940 Christian couple 00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:00.539 from London 00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:02.759 who tragically died 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:04.240 in Santorini in Greece 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:06.299 a few months ago. 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:08.220 Anybody see that in the news? 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:09.620 It's all over the BBC News. 00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:11.180 Well, 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:12.339 they had their joint funeral 00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:12.900 this week 00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:15.559 down in Kennington 00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:15.980 in London. 00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:17.360 1,200 people turned up 00:19:17.360 --> 00:19:17.940 for that funeral. 00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:20.120 And this week, 00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:20.819 I met up with one of my 00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:21.440 good friends who was 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:22.120 called Hamish. 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:23.000 And unknown to me 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:23.799 as I was chatting with him, 00:19:23.840 --> 00:19:24.620 it turned out that he 00:19:24.620 --> 00:19:25.480 spoke at that funeral. 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:26.820 I said, 00:19:26.860 --> 00:19:27.799 what on earth did you say? 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:29.259 Where do you go 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:30.259 with 1,200 people 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:32.160 mourning for a loss 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:33.860 of two wonderful individuals? 00:19:35.080 --> 00:19:35.860 And he said to me, 00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:36.100 do you know what, 00:19:36.100 --> 00:19:36.799 there was only one place 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.360 I could go. 00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:39.700 Only one place I could go. 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:41.240 And that was to 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:42.120 John chapter 11. 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.580 And the words of Jesus 00:19:44.580 --> 00:19:45.259 to Martha 00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:47.240 is she's, 00:19:47.580 --> 00:19:48.740 before Jesus has raised 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:49.720 Lazarus from the dead, 00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:50.440 is she's mourning 00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:51.420 for the loss of her brother. 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:52.480 She's in tears, 00:19:52.620 --> 00:19:53.880 is she's devastated 00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:54.920 for the loss of her brother. 00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.519 And Jesus says 00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:58.340 those words 00:19:58.340 --> 00:19:59.660 to Mary, 00:20:00.360 --> 00:20:01.519 I am the resurrection 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.279 and the life. 00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:04.539 And the one who believes 00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:05.559 in me will live, 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:07.480 even though they die. 00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:09.559 And whoever lives 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.740 by believing in me 00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:12.640 will never die. 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:14.539 You see, 00:20:14.600 --> 00:20:15.620 united to Jesus 00:20:15.620 --> 00:20:16.880 in his resurrection, 00:20:18.580 --> 00:20:19.480 what a wonderful, 00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:20.519 comforting truth 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.200 for the future. 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:22.879 That we will only 00:20:22.879 --> 00:20:23.799 die once. 00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:25.099 Our lives are his. 00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:26.980 In fact, 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.160 I've walked with many of you 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:29.059 through many of these 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:30.839 periods in your life. 00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:33.079 And those words 00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:34.879 of Jesus 00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:37.200 have so much power. 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.299 And I pray, 00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:39.879 and I've been praying 00:20:39.879 --> 00:20:40.379 this week, 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.859 that for many of us, 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:42.779 these words of his 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:43.539 would be timely 00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:45.039 refreshment to our souls. 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:48.119 I am the resurrection 00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:48.599 and life. 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:50.460 Your life is safe 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:50.899 with me 00:20:50.899 --> 00:20:52.000 because I bought it. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.159 I bought it 00:20:53.159 --> 00:20:53.720 with my blood. 00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:56.700 So wonderfully 00:20:56.700 --> 00:20:57.359 liberating 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.559 for the future, 00:20:58.659 --> 00:20:59.000 but friends, 00:20:59.059 --> 00:21:00.019 it is so wonderfully 00:21:00.019 --> 00:21:00.759 freeing 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.980 for the present. 00:21:03.139 --> 00:21:03.299 You see, 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:04.039 God hasn't just 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:04.779 saved us 00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:06.940 from something. 00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:08.980 God has saved us 00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:09.579 by his grace 00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:10.440 for something. 00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:12.200 In other words, 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:13.339 he hasn't called us out. 00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:14.480 He hasn't saved us. 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:15.039 And he's saying, 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:16.059 you're free to wander. 00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.179 You're free to go. 00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:18.319 Do what you please 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:19.119 and just send me 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:20.339 a postcard once in a while. 00:21:20.399 --> 00:21:21.159 He's not said that. 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.639 He's called us out 00:21:23.639 --> 00:21:24.599 not to be wanderers. 00:21:24.679 --> 00:21:25.259 He's called us out 00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:26.000 to be worshippers. 00:21:27.179 --> 00:21:28.539 To be part of his people 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:31.019 who are from every tribe 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:32.699 and from every tongue 00:21:32.699 --> 00:21:34.399 and from every nation. 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.919 This wonderful multitude 00:21:35.919 --> 00:21:38.139 from across the world 00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:39.199 down the generations 00:21:39.199 --> 00:21:40.159 that he's gathering 00:21:40.159 --> 00:21:41.019 to himself 00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:41.459 to be, 00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:42.279 as Peter says 00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:43.420 in 1 Peter chapter 1, 00:21:43.940 --> 00:21:45.099 a royal priesthood, 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:47.240 a holy nation 00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:48.539 and a people 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:49.279 who make it 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:50.579 their life's ambition 00:21:50.579 --> 00:21:52.039 to proclaim 00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:52.700 the praises 00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:53.220 of the one 00:21:53.220 --> 00:21:53.799 who called them 00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:54.539 out of darkness 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:57.139 into his wonderful light. 00:21:58.359 --> 00:21:59.700 That is what God is doing. 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:01.579 That is what God 00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:02.379 is doing today. 00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:03.399 That is what God 00:22:03.399 --> 00:22:04.259 was doing yesterday. 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:05.339 That is what God 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:06.079 will do tomorrow 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:06.920 and for the rest 00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:09.559 of our lives. 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:10.700 The lives 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.900 until he comes, 00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:12.840 Jesus comes 00:22:12.840 --> 00:22:15.000 and winds this world up. 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:18.319 You see, 00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:18.840 in light of that 00:22:18.840 --> 00:22:20.140 second half of verse 13, 00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:21.100 once you understand 00:22:21.100 --> 00:22:22.059 what God is doing, 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:23.080 it's so much bigger 00:22:23.080 --> 00:22:23.620 than us, 00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:24.440 it's so much bigger 00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:26.059 than the age 10, 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:27.160 it's something he's doing 00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:28.140 across the world 00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:29.200 when you understand that. 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:29.920 Do you see what he says 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:32.160 halfway through verse 13? 00:22:33.340 --> 00:22:34.160 Look at his appeal. 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:34.720 He says what? 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.019 He says, 00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:37.160 offer all parts of you. 00:22:38.180 --> 00:22:38.779 Do you see it? 00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:40.599 All parts of you. 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:42.299 Love that phrase. 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:42.740 Do you not? 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:43.700 Get that. 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.359 Your eyes, 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.139 your ears, 00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:45.759 your hands, 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:46.200 your feet, 00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:46.680 your mind, 00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:47.139 your will, 00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:47.879 all of you. 00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:48.539 Offer it, 00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:49.420 all of you. 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:50.940 As what? 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.059 And get your head 00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:52.799 around this phrase. 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:54.000 I mean, 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:54.980 here should be the phrase 00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:56.139 that stays from this passage, 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:56.339 right? 00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:57.420 Offer yourselves as what? 00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.819 As instruments 00:22:58.819 --> 00:22:59.579 of righteousness. 00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:02.299 Instruments of righteousness. 00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:04.339 Now here's the cool bit 00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:05.339 that I found out this week. 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:07.240 See that word 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:08.579 instruments in the Greek, 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:10.059 it can almost be translated 00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:10.639 weapon, 00:23:11.919 --> 00:23:12.440 weapon. 00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:15.159 Some of your translations 00:23:15.159 --> 00:23:15.659 here this morning 00:23:15.659 --> 00:23:16.599 might even say that word, 00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:17.000 weapon, 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:17.659 mine does, 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:19.759 as weapons of righteousness. 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:22.240 Love that thought. 00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:22.539 See, 00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:23.480 what God is doing 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:24.139 through us 00:23:24.139 --> 00:23:25.240 as his saved people 00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:27.480 is making an impact 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:28.180 on this world 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:29.519 as we live dangerously 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.519 different lives 00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.339 for his kingdom. 00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:32.980 God glorifying lives 00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:34.039 in this world. 00:23:35.419 --> 00:23:35.879 And it's, 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:37.480 we are the means 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.259 through whom 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.779 God reaches 00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:40.299 the people 00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:41.179 of this world. 00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:43.059 As we live our lives 00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:44.199 giving ourselves 00:23:44.199 --> 00:23:45.980 as instruments, 00:23:46.619 --> 00:23:47.019 weapons 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:47.859 to righteousness. 00:23:48.159 --> 00:23:49.199 Isn't that a wonderful thought? 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.619 Wonderful thought. 00:23:52.439 --> 00:23:52.659 You know, 00:23:52.679 --> 00:23:53.199 I was lucky enough 00:23:53.199 --> 00:23:55.299 to attend a meal 00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:55.839 last night. 00:23:55.959 --> 00:23:56.559 Corey and Jonathan 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.699 invited me to this meal. 00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.379 There's certain perks 00:23:58.379 --> 00:23:58.879 of this job, 00:23:58.939 --> 00:23:59.379 I tell you. 00:23:59.819 --> 00:24:00.699 Invited me to this meal 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:01.299 to celebrate 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:02.440 the 10th anniversary 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:02.940 of the work 00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:03.700 of street pastors 00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:04.220 in Edinburgh. 00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:06.080 After a wonderful evening, 00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:07.880 I was blown away 00:24:07.880 --> 00:24:08.740 by what God is doing 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.360 in this city. 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:10.220 Blown away 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.480 by the many people 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.500 he has in this city. 00:24:12.600 --> 00:24:13.600 It shouldn't have surprised me, 00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:14.100 but it did. 00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:16.299 And one of the guests 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:17.319 that he invited along 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:18.860 to say a few words 00:24:18.860 --> 00:24:20.220 was the chief superintendent 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:21.700 of Edinburgh police. 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:24.059 And she spoke for 10 minutes, 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:25.080 cracked a few funnies, 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:25.519 what not, 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.639 but she delivered 00:24:26.639 --> 00:24:27.619 some wonderful truths 00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:28.779 about how she perceives 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.980 the work of street pastors. 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:30.960 And basically, 00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:32.160 the essence of her message 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:33.759 was to the team, 00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:34.940 thank you. 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.220 Thank you for what you do. 00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:39.279 Thank you for complimenting 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.059 the work of the police. 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.240 Thank you for being a blessing 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:43.240 to our city. 00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.339 And thank you for loving 00:24:44.339 --> 00:24:44.960 our people. 00:24:46.639 --> 00:24:47.460 Loving our people. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.819 And she said particularly, 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:50.039 and this is just the statistics 00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:51.139 for what those guys 00:24:51.139 --> 00:24:51.579 are doing, 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:52.039 the work. 00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:52.440 She said, 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:54.500 thank you on behalf 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:58.059 of the 297 vulnerable people 00:24:58.059 --> 00:24:58.819 who you supported. 00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:00.960 Thank you so much 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:03.379 for the 78 aggressive situations 00:25:03.379 --> 00:25:04.420 that you guys managed 00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:04.960 to diffuse, 00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:05.879 which otherwise 00:25:05.879 --> 00:25:06.839 would have led to crime. 00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:09.599 Thank you so much 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:09.839 for the, 00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:10.559 I love this one, 00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:13.019 5,374 lollipops 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:13.619 you handed out 00:25:13.619 --> 00:25:14.240 to make sure people 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:14.899 had a good time 00:25:14.899 --> 00:25:16.079 Friday and Saturday night 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:16.659 in our city. 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.440 As you see, 00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:20.099 offer yourselves 00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:21.680 as instruments 00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:22.720 as weapons 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.560 to righteousness. 00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:24.880 Isn't that a wonderful 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:26.100 testimony of something 00:25:26.100 --> 00:25:27.340 what God is doing 00:25:27.340 --> 00:25:27.860 in this city? 00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:28.820 I know there's many, 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:30.519 many different organizations 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.799 who are doing similar things. 00:25:32.560 --> 00:25:33.480 But we want to be a blessing 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.180 to this city, 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:34.580 don't we? 00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:36.920 We want to be a blessing 00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:37.560 to the people. 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.640 We want to care for people, 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.420 love people. 00:25:39.660 --> 00:25:40.980 Because the gospel is holistic, 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:41.620 isn't it? 00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:43.080 Of word and deed. 00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:44.519 And we want to be people 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:44.740 who, 00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:46.019 as people would look into 00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.720 what we're doing, 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.160 they would say, 00:25:47.340 --> 00:25:48.880 thank you that you guys exist. 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:49.620 I'm so glad. 00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:51.060 I'm so glad. 00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:52.419 I would be devastated 00:25:52.419 --> 00:25:53.279 if you moved on. 00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.659 Offer your bodies 00:25:55.659 --> 00:25:56.740 as instruments 00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:57.859 to righteousness. 00:25:58.659 --> 00:25:59.700 Here is Paul taking 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:00.460 the theology 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:01.279 of who we are, 00:26:01.399 --> 00:26:02.599 our identity in Christ, 00:26:02.679 --> 00:26:03.279 and he is saying, 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.159 here is how it should 00:26:04.159 --> 00:26:05.399 outwork in your life. 00:26:06.879 --> 00:26:07.359 Weapons 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:08.700 to righteousness. 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.119 See, 00:26:10.179 --> 00:26:10.859 as we bring it to a close, 00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:11.379 God is saying 00:26:11.379 --> 00:26:12.859 through his word, 00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:14.539 understand who you are. 00:26:15.139 --> 00:26:16.379 Understand that you are 00:26:16.379 --> 00:26:17.519 united to Jesus 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.240 in his death. 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:19.920 And understand that you are 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:20.859 united to Jesus 00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:21.940 in his resurrection. 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:23.960 And understand that I have 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:24.980 called you out of darkness. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.680 And I've called you 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:27.880 to be part of my people. 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:29.460 I've called you into my light. 00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:30.940 And what I've called, 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:31.859 and we saw this last week 00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:32.259 with Adam, 00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:33.019 if you were here, 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:34.620 why did God do this? 00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:35.420 What is God doing? 00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:36.819 He has made us in his image. 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.599 The one that sin 00:26:38.599 --> 00:26:39.940 entered through Adam 00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:41.180 affected all of us. 00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:41.720 The one that, 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:42.740 that image sin 00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.440 is distorted. 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:45.100 And God has saved us 00:26:45.100 --> 00:26:46.539 to bear that image 00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:47.740 once again 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:48.799 in our lives 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:50.000 as we live our lives 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.580 in worship 00:26:50.580 --> 00:26:52.220 of our creator God. 00:26:53.600 --> 00:26:54.299 And I love it, 00:26:54.320 --> 00:26:55.380 our Presbyterian brothers 00:26:55.380 --> 00:26:56.140 and sisters, 00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:56.860 dear friends, 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:57.559 they write this 00:26:57.559 --> 00:26:58.519 in the Westminster 00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:59.720 Shorter Catechism. 00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:00.620 Let me get my geek on 00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:01.279 for a minute, okay? 00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.039 Question one. 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:04.559 What is the chief end of man? 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:05.900 Why are we here? 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.759 What do we exist for? 00:27:06.820 --> 00:27:07.440 That's the question. 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:07.980 How would you answer 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:08.559 that question? 00:27:09.820 --> 00:27:10.759 They answer it. 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:12.619 Man's chief end 00:27:12.619 --> 00:27:14.299 is to glorify God 00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:16.039 and to enjoy him forever. 00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:17.160 That's why we exist. 00:27:17.319 --> 00:27:18.039 That's why we're here. 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:18.879 That's what's going on. 00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:19.799 That's what being a Christian 00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:20.940 is all about. 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:23.019 And all of that 00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:24.039 symbolized in baptism. 00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:24.700 Do you see that? 00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:26.660 All symbolized in baptism. 00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:27.980 Come on, as a Baptist, 00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:28.680 you wouldn't let me, 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.140 you wouldn't think 00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:30.039 I'd be leaving that part, 00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:30.379 would you? 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:31.920 All symbolized by baptism. 00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:33.379 That's what Paul points out here. 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.500 Think of your baptism. 00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:35.440 Think what went on. 00:27:36.900 --> 00:27:37.460 And if you were here 00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:38.180 a few weeks ago 00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:39.220 when Pete was baptized, 00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:40.000 Pete and Garrett, 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:40.960 you'll realize that 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:42.220 Pete wanted those verses 00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:43.400 read out at his baptism. 00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:45.380 1 to 14, chapter 6. 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.259 It's almost like he was saying, 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.980 I've come to a point in my life 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.799 where I know this 00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.680 to be true of me. 00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:51.480 I'm living this. 00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:52.519 This is me. 00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:55.099 And so he wanted Romans 6 00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:55.960 read out as baptism. 00:27:56.099 --> 00:27:57.019 And I didn't understand it, 00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:57.460 I'll be honest, 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.140 three weeks ago. 00:27:58.599 --> 00:27:59.200 And so you haven't studied 00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:00.119 the passage this week? 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:01.240 Oh, I totally get it. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.660 Totally get it. 00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:04.859 This is what went on at baptism. 00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:05.559 We died. 00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:06.779 We died with Christ. 00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:09.680 And we raised with him 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:10.960 in his resurrection life. 00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:12.960 Baptism is almost like saying, 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.700 that's true for me. 00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:14.480 That's what's going on 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:15.639 in my life and my heart. 00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:17.720 You know, it's funny, 00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:19.039 I heard a joke about 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:19.799 a minister this week, 00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:20.339 it actually happened, 00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:20.680 I think, 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.619 who at baptism kept 00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:24.660 the person who's been 00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.599 baptized underwater 00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:26.960 for just a little bit 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:28.240 too long, right? 00:28:28.639 --> 00:28:29.759 Made everyone in the congregation 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.720 feel really uncomfortable 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:31.680 with what was going on 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:33.079 before he raised them out 00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:33.700 and he lifted them 00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.399 as high as he could. 00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:36.080 As a way of kind of 00:28:36.080 --> 00:28:37.660 helping them see 00:28:37.660 --> 00:28:38.259 and everybody there 00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:39.120 see the reality 00:28:39.120 --> 00:28:40.140 of what was going on. 00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.100 You're dead to sin 00:28:42.100 --> 00:28:44.120 and you're alive to God 00:28:44.120 --> 00:28:44.900 in Christ Jesus. 00:28:46.120 --> 00:28:46.780 And maybe if that's true 00:28:46.780 --> 00:28:47.720 for you this morning 00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:48.620 or you think I want to 00:28:48.620 --> 00:28:49.680 investigate that a bit further, 00:28:49.780 --> 00:28:50.640 what's that all about? 00:28:51.140 --> 00:28:52.019 Then can I encourage you 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.940 to chat to somebody 00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:54.540 and if you think, 00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:54.960 do you know what, 00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:56.000 that has happened to me. 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:57.519 Friends, can I encourage you 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.320 to come and get baptized? 00:28:59.320 --> 00:28:59.960 Tell the world, 00:29:00.080 --> 00:29:00.800 this is what's going on 00:29:00.800 --> 00:29:01.220 in my life, 00:29:01.280 --> 00:29:02.200 that's what God has done. 00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:04.220 Because Paul says 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:05.000 in the same way, 00:29:05.100 --> 00:29:06.039 count yourselves 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:09.360 dead to sin, right? 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:09.940 The old you, 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:10.420 that's gone, 00:29:10.580 --> 00:29:11.240 dead to sin 00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:13.140 and alive to God 00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:15.279 in Christ Jesus. 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.700 So flip back to James Bond 00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:19.240 in your mind. 00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:20.840 This is where we started, 00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:21.720 James Bond. 00:29:22.080 --> 00:29:23.180 What does living by 00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:24.259 in God's grace mean? 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:25.220 I mean, does that mean 00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:26.940 that I have license to sin? 00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:28.420 Am I in the same category 00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:29.120 as James Bond? 00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:30.640 Am I free to do what I want 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:31.180 but I'm covered? 00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:32.200 What's going on? 00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:34.900 Well, just see how Paul 00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:36.200 has logically helped them 00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:37.420 see that if you think that, 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:38.560 friends, you've totally missed it. 00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:40.640 Because if by God's grace 00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:42.539 we are Jesus's, 00:29:43.340 --> 00:29:44.100 you understand his logic? 00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:44.940 If we're Jesus's, 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.779 then to run back 00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.720 to our old masters, 00:29:46.900 --> 00:29:47.740 to run back 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.880 to how we used to live, 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:50.799 it doesn't make any sense at all. 00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:53.600 Grace isn't a license 00:29:53.600 --> 00:29:54.519 to sin, friends. 00:29:54.620 --> 00:29:55.900 It's a license to serve. 00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:58.340 To serve the God 00:29:58.340 --> 00:29:59.080 who saved us, 00:29:59.120 --> 00:30:00.279 who called us out of darkness 00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:01.639 into his glorious light. 00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:03.839 Take my life 00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:04.799 and let it be 00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:07.279 consecrated, Lord, 00:30:07.399 --> 00:30:07.879 to thee. 00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:09.960 Take my moments 00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:10.799 and my days 00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:11.899 and let them flow 00:30:11.899 --> 00:30:13.180 in ceaseless praise. 00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:14.299 Take my hands 00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:16.119 and let them move 00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:17.039 at the impulse 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:18.039 of thy love. 00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:19.819 And take my feet 00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:21.299 and let them be 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:21.899 swift 00:30:21.899 --> 00:30:23.119 and beautiful 00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:24.059 for thee. 00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:24.980 This is the difference 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:26.200 that the risen Jesus Christ 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:26.960 makes to our life. 00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:28.079 Praise God for his grace. 00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:33.579 and let's go. 00:30:33.639 --> 00:30:34.159 Thank you. 00:30:34.359 --> 00:30:35.480 So, 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:36.539 let's go to bed.